MC8 How many grease fittings? What to do when they don't take grease

[Melbo]

I adjusted the brakes and greased up the coach in a ritual of preparing for an excursion.

I greased 8 fittings on each tag assembly

I greased 5 fittings on each side of the drive

I greased 6 fittings on each side of the steer

One on the pitman arm

Did I get them all??? or did I miss any???

What do you do when a fitting won't take grease. I replaced the fitting and it still would not take grease.  It is the lower forward facing fitting on the passenger side. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Melbo

[gus]

Sometimes all you have to do is loosen it slightly and it will take grease.

If the grease is hardened nothing will work except a long soak in solvent.

Just replacing them is easier and faster if access is not too bad, unfortunately sometimes access is almost impossible.

Replacing also allows you to substitute straight for angled and vice versa for easier greasing.

[Sam 4106]

Hi Melbo,
I don't know how many grease fittings there are on an MC 8 but I think you missed some very important ones. The U-joints on the drive shaft, tierod ends, and DD3 parking brake locks are some that come to mind. I'm sure there are others. You didn't say what the fitting is on that won't take grease, but if it is on the front king pins you can sometimes get them to take grease by jacking up the wheel to releave the pressure on the pin. By releasing the parking brake you can sometimes get the brake shoe pins to take grease. Be sure to block the wheels before releasing the parking brake.

[luvrbus]

Melbo, you may not want to pay the price but Snap On sells what they call the Rejuvenator for grease fitting the last one I bought was around 50 bucks they work to free up the passage to accept grease.
Beats all the drilling and soaking 



good luck

[bobofthenorth]

I don't know what you might have on your fan drive but I've got a couple on there.  In addition to the u-joints that were already mentioned look for a slip joint on the propeller shaft (it will be a splined shaft sliding inside a sleeve with a zerk on the sleeve).  On mine I open the driver's compartment to get at some u-joints on the steering column as well as the front end of the drag link.  

[Melbo]

Sam

I did not  mention the driveline because I have a cummins and slip yoke  it has 5 fittings and I got them all. Two at each universal joint and one on the slip. Some of the fittings I counted are on the brakes as well as the suspension. One of the front ones is each tie rod end and I did mention the pitman arm. You are probably right that I need to take the pressure off the king pin and that will solve my problem.  I did block the wheels because I was adjusting the brakes and I had the brakes off when I made all my adjustments and lubrication. So tomorrow morning after some personal stuff business stuff and other stuff I will head on down to the bus and jack it up and see how that helps. I will post and let you know thanks for the tip.

Melbo

[robertglines1]

If you are using a air greaser try the hand pump..more power...I have one you even hit with a hammer..the guys have covered everything else...keep greasing and good luck.

[jackhartjr]

Seems like on the 4501 there are a hundred or more under there.
Jack

[Melbo]

Well I have about 50 but maybe that is because the senic is twice the bus an MCI is

Melbo

[luvrbus]

Melbo, there should be a chart in your manual showing the places and types of grease to use if my memory serves me my MCI used 2 or 3 different types of grease. 



good luck

[Melbo]

Clifford

Good Idea look in the manual

I just did and it appears that I have gotten all the ones that are noted there

Thanks for the tip --- should of thought of that myself but then I wouldn't have learned to jack up the front end to do the king pins.

Melbo

[akroyaleagle]

Don't know anything about MCI's but heavy equipment is pretty much alike.

Usually the only ones I have trouble with are in the adjusting arms of the suspension.

When I find a zerk that won't take grease, I remove it and try to fish out the hardened grease in the joint (not the zerk) with a piece of wire. If that doesn't work I heat it until the grease melts and runs out. then I install a new zerk and after it cools I grease it.

That has always worked and the zerk usually doesn't give me any more trouble.

Seems the Eagle has more than a 100 zerks. More every time I grease it!

The zerks for the throttle and fan are much easier since I remoted them to the rear of the engine compartment.

[Busted Knuckle]

Melbo,
Actually I'll bet somewhere the service manual does suggest jacking the front to lube the king pins. I won't guarantee it, but I'd be surprised if it didn't. As long as I have been turning wrenches on anything bigger than a car, I've always been told that it's the proper way! (by many different sources!)

Also one other tip for zerks not taking grease (especially after changing it!), is to use a small propane torch and heat it till the old grease loosens up. (But be very careful doing this for several reasons. 1; is the grease surrounding the area can catch fire if not careful. 2: is to be careful not to damage any rubber seals etc.! It is a great last resort trick, but only when done very cautiously!)
 BK  

looks as though the 2 of us were posting at the same time! LOL!

[bobofthenorth]

Allow me to translate what Bryce just said for you Mel:  RTFM

Sorry - couldn't resist.  The devil made me do it.

[Busted Knuckle]

Allow me to translate what Bryce just said for you Mel:  RTFM

Sorry - couldn't resist.  The devil made me do it.

Bob you bad, very bbaaaddddd!
  BK